Drapery track and lubricator therefor



P 1955 F. w. LINDNER 2,706,827

DRAPERY TRACK AND LUBRICATOR THEREFOR Filed June 15, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

U/W4 8A United States Patent DRAPERY TRACK AND LUBRICATOR THEREFOR Frank W. Lindner, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application June 15, 1954, Serial No. 436,946

6 Claims. (Cl. 16-95) This invention relates to a lubricating means for the ways of draw curtains or drapery assemblies.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a lubricating means for the traverse rods or ways of draw curtains or drapery assemblies and means which can be applied thereto to be operated by the drapery hangers as they are translated along the traverse rod or way thereof.

Second, to provide a drapery fixture assembly including a way lubricating means which is efiicient for the purpose and at the same time does not soil the supported curtains or drapes.

Third, to provide a lubricating device for the traverse rods of curtain or drapery assemblies which is very economical to produce and at the same time is very efficient and may be applied to the traverse rod without the aid of tools.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a draw curtain or drapery assembly embodying my invention, parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my traverse rod lubricating device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on line 44 of Fig. 1 showing the relation of the hangers to the way.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side end elevational view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

Drapery assemblies of the draw type frequently become noisy when operated or become difficult to operate in that the hangers tend to grip the rods and are subject to friction and undesirable wear of the parts. The application of lubrication to the ways of these rods is objectionable as it is likely to soil curtains or drapes and further, it is difficult to apply the lubricant and requires frequent lubrication. The ways of traverse rods are commonly formed of thin sheet metal stock, one relatively sharp edge of the stock constituting the slideway.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents curtains or drapes. The supporting parts on which the traverse rods are mounted are not illustrated as they will form no part of this invention.

The traverse rods 2 are of general 6 shape, the lower edges 3 of the slot-like opening constituting ways for the drapery hangers 4. The slides 5 and 6 are connected to the pull cords 7 and 8. The guides for these pull cords are not illustrated as they form no part of my present invention and suitable arrangements are known in the art.

It is sufficient to state that manipulation of the pull cords serve to draw the curtains or draperies or to open them and in doing so the hangers 4 are slidably translated along the ways 3. The parts thus described are old in the art and form no part of my present invention except in combination with my lubricating device or carrier 9. This lubricant carrier 9 is of U-shape and slidably embraces the bottom bight or U-shape portion of the traverse rod as is best illustrated in Fig. 2.

The outer arm 10 of the lubricant carrier 9 is turned inwardly and downwardly to provide a holder 11 for the lubricating material 12, preferably in the form of a solid block of material such, for example as paraffine p CC wax or beeswax or other material have lubricating qualities and which'has a melting point substantially above ordinary atmosphere temperatures.

This lubricating material is slidably supported on the way 3. The inner arm 13 of the lubricant carrier is in slidably supporting engagement with the inner side 15 of the traverse rod. The edges 16 of the arm 14 are flanged outwardly so that the carrier slides freely on the traverse {0d, the engagement however being desirably relatively oose.

The carriers 9 are engaged with the traverse rod between adjacent hangers or slides thereon so that the lubricant carriers are translated along the traverse rod with the lubricating material thereof in sliding engagement with the way by the manipulation of the curtains or draperies as they are drawn or opened.

In the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 5 the lubricating material indicated at 17 is a piece of felt or wicking or the like saturated or impregnated with a non-flowing lubricant. However, the applicant finds the solid piece of lubricant is very economical to use and is very satisfactory and durable.

The lubricating device of my invention may be very economically produced and sold with or separate from the curtain or drapery assemblies. In either case they may be readily installed without the use of tools.

It will be understood that I have used the terms front" and inner in a relative sense and not particularly as in regard to the front and rear of the curtains or draperies as hung.

I have illustrated and described highly practical embodiments of my invention. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drapery fixture assembly comprising a transverse traverse rod of generally 0 section, the lower edge of the opening therein constituting a way, drapery hangers slidable on said way and movable thereon relative to each other, a U-shaped lubricant carrier slidably embracing the underside of the traverse rod, the end of the outer arm of said carrier being bent inwardly and downwardly providing a downwardly facing holder, and lubricant material disposed in said holder and supportedly slidable on said way, the inturned end of said outer arm of said carrier extending below the way, the inner arm of said carrier being in slidably supported engagement with the inner side of the traverse rod, the edges of the inner arm being flared outwardly, said lubricant carrier being positioned on said traverse rod to be translated therealong by a hanger thereon.

2. A drapery fixture assembly comprising a transverse traverse rod of generally C section, the lower edge of the opening therein constituting a way, drapery hangers slidable on said way and movable thereon relative to each other, a U-shaped lubricant carrier slidably embracing the underside of the traverse rod, the end of the outer arm of said carrier being bent inwardly and downwardly providing a downwardly facing holder, and lubricant material disposed in said holder and supportedly slidable on said way, said lubricant carrier being positioned on said traverse rod to be translated therealong by a hanger thereon.

3. A drapery fixture assembly comprising a transverse traverse rod having an upwardly facing way, drapery hangers slidable on said way, a U-shaped lubricant carrier slidably embracing the underside of the traverse rod, the end of the outer arm of said carrier being bent inwardly and downwardly providing a downwardly facing holder, and lubricant material disposed in said holder and supportedly slidable on said way, said lubricant carrier being positioned on said traverse rod to be translated therealong by a hanger thereon.

4. Drapery fixtures comprising a transverse traverse rod having an upwardly facing way and provided with drapery hangers translatable on said way, a U-shaped lubricant carrier slidably embracing the underside of said traverse rod, the end of the outer arm of said holder being bent inwardly and downwardly providing a downwardly facing lubricant holder having lubricating material therein supportedly slidable on said way, the inner arm of said holder being in slidable supported engagement with the inner side of the traverse rod, said lubricant carrier being positioned on said traverse rod to be translated therealong by an adjacent hanger as it is translated along the way.

5. A lubricating device for a drapery traverse rod having a generally U-shaped lower portion, the edge of one arm of which constitutes an upwardly facing drapery hanger way, said lubricating device being of U-shape and being adapted to slidably embrace the underside of a traverse rod with its inner arm in slidably supported engagement therewith, its outer arm being turned inwardly and downwardly so as to be positioned with its end projecting below the way of the transverse rod to constitute a downwardly facing lubricant holder, said holder having a block of solid lubricating material therein slidainle on said way as the said device is translated there a ong.

6. A lubricating device for a drapery traverse rod having a generally U-shaped lower portion, the edge of one arm of which constitutes an upwardly facing drapery hanger way, said lubricating device being of U-shape and being adapted to slidably embrace the underside of a traverse rod with its inner arm in slidably supported engagement therewith, its outer arm being turned inwardly and downwardly so as to be positioned with its end projecting below the way of the transverse rod to constitute a downwardly facing lubricant holder, said holder having lubricating material therein slidable on said way as the said device is translated therealong.

Busiel Mar. 18, 1913 Graber et al. Oct. 6, 1953 

